Car coupler



. July 6 1926.

Filed August 7, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I z Q/TYJZKSWWWZ/VEQTOR AITORNEY July 6, 1926. 1,591,789

J. W. SMITH CAR COUPLER Filed August '7, 1925 3 Sheets- Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY UTE. E n MiIIJTz/ *1 b H 7/ v wrmass:

July 6, 1926,

J. W. SMITH CAR COUPLER Filed August '7', 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 QIZZ. fi'vnith INVENTOR ygaw AIIORNEY WITNBS:

Patented July 6, 1926.

warren stares 1,591,789 earner QFHCE.

JOHN W. SMITH, OF RENOVO, PE NNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM FORD, OF RENOVO, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR COUPLER.

This invention relates to a car coupler, the general object of the invention being to provide simple and effective means for enabling cars to be coupled and uncoupled without the V trainmen going between the cars. I

Another object of the invention is to make the coupling act-ion an automatic one, with spring actuated means for locking the parts in coupled position. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a manually rotatable shaft for mov ing the locking member to releasing position to uncouple the cars. N

This invention also consists in certain other features ofconstruction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings andspecifically pointed out in the appended claims.

' In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of two coupling elements.

Figure 2 is a similar view, but showing the parts in uncoupled position.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through one element, showing the parts in coupled position. I

Figure l is a similar view, but showing the parts in uncoupled position.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view, with parts in plan.

Figure 6 is a section on line 66 of Figure 3. V

Figure 7 is a section on line 77 of Figure 8. r

Figure 8 is a section on line 88 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a View of the locking member.

Figure 10 is a View of the two-part shank of the coupling head.

As shown in these views, each draw bar 1 is of hollow construction and has its enlarged outer end of forked construction between the tongues of which is pivoted a substantially U-shaped coupling member 2, the member being so formed that it will have its outer limb engage the corresponding limb of another element when the two come together, this action being caused by the outer limb of each member striking the lnner limb of the opposite member, which rocks the two members about their pivotal points, as will be seen from an inspection of draw bar 1 and has a bolt 4 pivoted to its inner end which is provided with a lower inclined shoulder 5 and an upper inclined shoulder 6, lhe rear part of the draw bar is enlarged and has a cavity 7 therein, the front wall of which having an inclined part 8 thereon for engaging the shoulder 5 of the bolt when the same is in looking position and a locking member 9 is fastened to a shaft 10 which passes through the chamber and said member is provided with an opening 11 for receiving the end of the bolt 4 and with an inclined part 12 for engaging the shoulder 6 for holding the bolt in looking position or in a position with the coupling member 6 closed. A spring 13 tends to hold the member 9 in lockin position and this spring engages a curved tubular part 14 formed on the member 9 and a curved socket 15 formed in the rear wall of the chamber. Said wall has a slot 16 therein which communicates with the socket, so that the spring, or a part thereof, if the same should be broken, can be removed from the socket by a tool. The tail part 17 of member 9 is provided with teeth which are engaged by the teeth of a pinion 18 on a shaft 19 which extends across the end of the car and has a handle 20 thereon so that a trainman can rock the shaft, without passing between two cars, to move the member 9 to releasing position and against the action of its spring. then this member is so moved, a spring 21 will force the bar 3 forwardly to move the coupling element 2 to open position and this movement will pull the bolt forwardly out of engagementwith the wall 8 and the looking member 11. This spring 21 engages a projection 22 on the bar 3 and a clip 23 which has its cars 24 engaging slots 25 formed in the walls of an upper extension 26 of the bore of the. draft bar.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that when two cars come together, the coupling member 2 on one car, striking the rear part of the coupling member on the other car, will swing the same to coupling position and this movement will cause the bar and the bolt to move rearwardh so that the end of the bolt striking the inclined part 12 of the locking member 9, will raise said member 9 against the action of its spring until the end of the bolt enters the recess 11, when the spring 13 will force the member 9 and the bolt downwardly so that the shoulders 5 and 6 of the bolt will engage the parts 8 and 12 and thus the coupling parts will be locked in coupling position. This action will also compress the spring lWien the cars are to be uncoupled, the shaft 19 is rocked by a trainman through means of its handle 20 to raise the member 9 so as to free the bolt and then the spring 21 will move the parts forwardly into uncoupling position.

The parts are easily accessible so that new springs and other parts can be easily replaced it broken and the coupling action is entirely automatic.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readil}, apparent.

I desire it to be understood that i may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes tall with in the scope of the appended claims.

hat I claim is 1. A car coupler, comprising a hollow draw bar, a coupling element pivoted thereto, a member slidably mounted in the draw bar and pivoted to the coupling element, a bolt pivoted to the sliding element and having av Zpart engaging an inner wall oi the draw bar. a pivoted member in the draw bar for engaging the bolt to hold the same in engagement with the wall, spring means for holding said member in holding position and manually operated means for rocking the member to release the bolt.

A car coupler. comprising a hollow draw bar. a coupling element pivoted thereto. member slidably mounted in the draw bar and pivoted to the coupling element, a bolt pivoted to the sliding element and having a part engaging an inner wall of the draw bar, a pivoted member in the draw bar for ene'a 'ing the bolt to hold the same in engage t with the wall, spring means for holding mid member in holding position, manually 'perated means for rocking the member to release the bolt, and spring means for projecting the parts forwardly, after the bolt has been released to more the parts to uncou jvling position.

In tes'timon} whereof I atlix mv signature.

J OHN W. SMITH. 

